The fishery has modern secure entry gates which are closed at dark and re-open again in the morning, a large car park and separate ladies and gents toilets. The bank which is used for fishing has a well maintained grass trackway which leads to each of the 29 pegs whilst the first large peg next to the car park is suitable for disabled anglers. The far bank of the lake is not fished because it forms part of the adjacent Vale Golf Course.

As far as the fishing goes, Evesham Vale can effectively be split into three distinct areas - a good sized tree-lined bay near the car park, the central more open section of water and a bay at the far end. Both bays provide some shelter from the prevailing wind.

Because the fish have been hand fed with more than seven and a half tons of pellets since they were introduced early in 2006, 6mm and 8mm pellets have proved to be a very effective bait in pre-opening test sessions on the water, as have UFO Cotswold Bait boilies.

Because of this, the same pellets can be purchased at the fishery in either 3.5kg buckets and £6.00 or 10kg bags at £15.00, although it is expected that as the fish mature and become more wary of anglers over the years they will gradually become less effective.

Anglers who have fished the water so far suggest that groundbaiting is not necessary, although hemp added to a fairly sloppy spod mix seems to work well. Filling a pva bag with hook samples and hemp has also so far proved effective, whilst hand feeding pellets, boilies and hemp close to the side is another good technique as the fish have already started patrolling the margins in search of food.

Observations on the water show that there are no particular hot spots as fish can be seen feeding all over, although anglers who prefer to fish more sheltered swims will graduate towards the bays at either end whilst those looking for more open stretches where they can cast a long bait will head for the central sections of the lake.

Anglers from the media including Angling Times, Anglers Mail, Total Carp, Crafty Carper and Midland Angler who have test fished the lake suggest that, whichever technique you use, it has so far paid to bait your swim quite heavily and follow up with more pellets and hook samples at intervals throughout your session to keep the fish in your swim.

One angler took a total of 25 fish in a 12 hour session whilst another said he had caught so many carp in the evening session he decided to go to sleep at midnight to get his strength back and carry on fishing again in the morning!

In addition to pellets, fishmeal based boilies have also proved good baits, with most of the bigger fish being taken from the edge of the baited area rather than in the central parts of the swim. Fishing this way, best results have been had by baiting the hook with a larger pellet or boilie than those used in the free offerings.

Early tests have also shown that a 'snowman rig' using one traditional boilie and one pop-up which counter balances the traditional boilie is also very effective.

Click here to see a four minute video with music of Evesham Vale (Approximate Broadband download time - two minutes)

How to get there...

Evesham Vale is located just outwide Evesham and is easy to find.

Whichever direction you are travelling from, make your way onto the A44 Worcester to Evesham road and when you reach Fladbury look out for the sign for Bishampton/The Lenches/Vale Golf Club (on the left if you are travelling from Worcester. Drive up the hill and after a few miles you will pass the golf club. Turn right at the T-junction at Bishampton signed for Rous Lench and you will see the entrance to the fishery about 200 yards along here on the right.

On the Multimap reference above, Evesham Vale Carp Fishery is the long lake overprinted with the words 'Bishampton Fields Farm'

Click on the map for more detail.

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